End-gate for wagons



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. R. WATT.

END GATE FOR WAGONS.

No. 403,628. Patented May 21, 1889.

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Illli 1|! Hill i 1 "M l W I! lllll (N0 Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' W. R. WATT.

END GATE FOR WAGONS.

No. 403,628. Patented May 21, 1889.

ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM RUFUS IVATT, OF SOMERVILLE, TENNESSEE.

END-GATE FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,628, dated May 21,1889.

Application filed February 20, 1889. Serial No. 300,517. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM RUFUS \VATT, of Somerville, in the countyof Fayette and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and ImprovedEnd-Gate Fastening, of which the following; is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fastening,which is simple and durable in construction, very effective inoperation, and specially designed for securely locking end-gates towagons.

The invention consists of a shaft mounted to turn and to slide in theend-gate and provided with a fixed head adapted to engage a recess inthe cleat holding the end-gate.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described, and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement as applied and with parts insection, a part only of the wagon and end-gate being shown. Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of thesame on the line :2 a: of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a like view of the sameon the line y y of Fig. 1.

The wagon-bed A is provided with the usual bot-tom, B, and the sides 0,each of which is provided with the L-shaped cleats D and D, in which isfitted the end-gate E. To the latter at each end is secured a verticalbeam, F, carrying the bearings G and G, in which is mounted to turn atransversely-extending shaft, 11, carrying on its outer end asemicircular head, I, adapted to pass into an opening, D formed in thetransversely-extending part of the cleat D. The shaft II is also adaptedto pass into a semicircular bearing, D extending from the transversepart of the cleat D next to the opening D On the shaft II is coiled aspring, J, resting at one end against the bearing G and at its other endpressing against the pin J, secured in the shaft H. On the inner end ofthe shaft II is pivoted a cam, K, adapted to operate against the bearingG, and provided with a handle, L, for conveniently operating said cam K,so as to cause the shaft II to turn and to slide transversely in itsbearin The operation is as follows: \Vhen the endgate E is to beinserted between the cleats D D, the fixed head I is in an outermostposition, so that the end-gate is permitted to slide downward betweenthe cleats D and D. The outer end of the shaft II then passes into thesemicircular bearing D, and the operator now swings the handle Ldownward, the shaft II moves a halfturn, and the fixed head I swingsinward into the opening D in the transverse part of the cleat D. Theoperator then swings the lever L upward into the position shown in Fig.2, whereby the cam K presses against the bearing G, and consequentlydraws the shaft II inward in the direction of the arrow o. The head I isthus securely pressed against the transverse part of the cleat D,whereby the said shaft is securely locked in place. It will be seen thatthe end-gate is also looked in place, as the fixed head I, engaging theopening D is prevented from being moved upward. \V hen the operatordesires to unlock the end-gate, he swings the arm L downward in thedirection of the arrow Z), (see Fig. 2,) so that the cam K unlocks theshaft II, and then the operator turns the handle L upward, so as to givethe shaft II a half-turn, whereby the head I again swings outward anddisengages the cleat D. The gate can then be lifted upward out of thecleat-s I) and D. In order to conveniently turn the head I into theopening D I provide the end-gate with a recess, E, directly behind thesaid opening E, as is plainly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thus itwill be seen that by a very simple operation the end-gate is securelylocked in place on the wagoirbed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In an end-gate fastening, the combination ofL-shaped cleats secured 011 the sides of the wagon-bed, one of the saidcleats being provided with an opening in its transverselyextending part,an end-gate fitting between the said cleats, and a shaft mounted to turnand slide on the end-gate and provided with a head adapted to enter theopening in the cleat, substantially as described.

2. In an end-gate fastening, the combination of L-shaped cleats securedon the sides of the wagon-bed, one of the said cleats being providedwith an opening and a bearing in its transversely-extending part, anend-gate fitting between the said cleats, and a shaft mounted to turnand slide on the end-gate and provided with a head adapted to enter theopening in the cleat, substantially as described.

3. In an end-gate fastening, the combination, with L-shaped cleatssecured on the sides of the Wagon-bed, of an end-gate fitted between thesaid cleats, a shaft mounted to turn and to slide on the said end-gate,a fixed head secured on one end of the said shaft and adapted to engagean opening in one of the said cleats, and a cam-lever secured on thesaid shaft and serving to turn the said shaft and to cause it to slidelaterally, substantially as shown and described.

4. In an end-gate fastening, the combina- .tion, with L-shaped cleatssecured on the sides of the wagon-bed, of an end-gate fitted between thesaid cleats, a shaft mounted to turn and to slide on the said end-gate,a fixed head secured on one end of the said shaft and adapted to engagean opening in one of the said cleats, a cam-lever secured on the saidshaft and serving to turn the said shaft and to cause it to slidelaterally, and a spring held on the said shaft and operating inconjunction with the said lever, substantially as shown and described.

XVILLIAM RUFUS WATT.

WVitnesses:

HENRY A. WASHINGTON, WVALTER F. ANDERSON.

